> I've enjoyed all of your comments about Disneyland, Doc, and naturally, it reminded me of something. I'm a traveler and I'm always amazed when I talk to non-travelers, and find out how little they know about places beyond their horizon. For example, most non-travelers don't realize that Disney World and Disneyland are two different locations. Some of them don't know the difference between Florida and California. Maybe it's because Disney World and Disneyland both have Space Mountain and Pirates of the Carribean. And Florida and California are both far-away, warm, sunny places. It's difficult, if not impossible to explain to a non-traveler that Hawaii is a state made up of islands, one of which is also named Hawaii. Even if you call it "The Big Island," they still think Pearl Harbor and Waikiki are there. Mention that you have been to New York and all they can think of is the Statue of Liberty and skyscrapers. You should see the blank looks you get if you mention Albany, or the Finger Lakes. And try to explain to a non-traveler that New Mexico is part of the United States! I once told a non-traveler that he would probably like Alaska, and he replied that he didn't think he would want to travel in foreign countries. And they have no concept of how big California is. They think you can see all of it in a few days. Maybe Disney was wrong. Maybe for some people, it isn't such a small world after all.
> Howard

Howard, this really made me laugh. I've had all the same experiences, allowing for differences in places. I may not have been everywhere, but at least I know those places exist, and have read a little about them. Don't most Americans travel much? Here, going overseas to travel for a year or so is part of just about every kid's life experience, usually after finishing school or university, or as a career break in your 20s or 30s. I went all through the USA by myself when I was 17 but most people I know went to Europe or Britain.
On a different note, living in a small world isn't always a bad thing. I met a guy about Howard's age on a South Pacific island last year, whose whole world was pretty much a clearing in the jungle about 60 feet across. He and his family lived the same way his people have lived for thousands of years. In terms of travel time, he was living maybe two hours' jeep ride and four hours' plane trip away from skyscrapers, casinos, traffic jams, and political scandals, but in terms of reality none of those things existed for him. He showed me a special kind of wooden bowl he was carving, and his newest granddaughter, and he didn't need anything else to make him happy. I sort of envied him.
I want to go everywhere and see everything and I can never understand people who don't.

Brunnen-"I'm glad they won't have commercial space travel in my lifetime, it would be just too much"G